Sailing craft multiple hull arrangement



Feb. 19, 1957 W. E. ROBERTS ETAL SAILING CRAFT MULTIPLE HULL ARRANGEMENT Filed March 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WALTER INVENTQRS WILLIAM E. ROBERTS P. ROU NTR EE ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957 w. E. ROBERTS EI'AL SAILING CRAFT MULTIPLE HULL ARRANGEMENT Filed March 1 e, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

I INVEN'I-ORS WILLIAM E. Roaem's WALTER P. ROUNTREE BY gmflwf r ATTORNEY United States Patent SAILING CRAFT MULTIPLE HULL ARRANGEMENT William E. Roberts and Walter P. Rountree, Gainesville, Fla.; said Rountree assignor to said Roberts Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,434 1 Claim. (Cl. 114-61) The present invention relates to a sailing craft, and more particularly to a sailing craft comprising a single hull and being provided with oppositely disposed pontoons which are parallel to each other and to said hull A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sailing craft in which a sailing deck extends transversely across the mid-portion of the hull and laterally beyond each side of the hull to provide rider carrying portions which in conjunction with the pontoons will provide combined keel and ballast means for the craft.

The-present invention aims to provide a craft of this kind in which the bottom of themid-portion-and the stern portion are substantially flat and the bottomof the bow portion is of the sea-sled type formed with a downwardly faced channel where the bow is forced to climb up. Since the bottom of the mid-portion and the stern portion are substantially flat and have less buoyancy, the

' fact that the bow climbs up will force the mid-portion and stern portion and the pontoons further into the water under pressure so that if the craft tends to capsize to either side the pontoon on that side will resist such capsizing and the edge of the mid-portion and stem portion of the hull on such side will dig into the water and function as an additional keel to augmentthe action of said pontoon in resisting capsizing.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.

In the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the sailing craft embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan elevation of the sailing craft with the sails of Figure I removed;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the sailing craft shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows; I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the pontoons.

Referring now to th e drawings, there is shown a sailing craft embodying'the' features of the present invention. The numeral 20 generally refers to the single hull of the sailing craft. As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the hull 2 0 is subdivided, for the purposes of description, into a front portion 21, a mid-portion 22, and a stern portion The underneath portion of front portion 21is cupped or formed with a downwardly faced channel as at 24 to provide a sea-sled 'type of bow, with the cupping being slight'to form an air pocket so as to force the bow to climb up rather than dig into the water when the sailing craft is underway. Also provided on top of the front portion 21 of the sailing craft is a suitable socket 25 to receive a vertical mast 26. The mast supporting mem ber 25 is adapted to receive the mast 26, which is held in placeby stays, two sets of three stays each 41 and 41a, which in turn supports a main sail 27, and a front sail 28, both of which have been shown in phantom in Figure l.

The stays 41 and 41a are connected at one end thereof to the eyelet 42 which is secured to the mid-portion of the front end of hull 20, while other ends of said stays 41 and 41a are suitably secured to two eyelets 42a, each of which is secured to an end portion of the forward crossarm 40'of the flying deck 30.

Theparticularsize and structure of the sails 27 and 2.3-

are not considered to bea part of this invention per se, and therefore have not been described in great detail. The boom 29 for the main sail 27 is ordinarily fourteen feet (14') long, and the mast 26 is ordinarily eighteen feet six inches (18" 6") in height, with the sails 27 and 28 being of a suitable size to conform to the length of the boom 29 and the height of the mast 26. t

In dismantling the rig, the mast 26 may beremoved from the mast supporting socket 25, it being understoodthat the mast 26 is supported within the mast supporting element 25 in such a manner that there is no relative rotation and held in place by stays 41 and 41a.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, a, flying deck generally indicated by the numeral 30, preferably extends transversely from the mid-portion 22 of the hull 20'of the a the slats 31, the forward. crossarm 40 and the rear cross-- arm 40a, in any suitable manner as by nuts and bolts. One crossbar 32 is disposed on the flying deck on one side of hull 20 while the other crossbar 32 is disposed on the flying deck 30 on the opposite side of said hull 20.

The outer free end portions of the slats 31 which are positioned between the forward crossarm 40 and the rear crossarm 40a, overlie two pontoons, one on either side of hull 20, which have generally been indicated by the numerals 33 and 34. The crossarms 40 and 40a, at the end portions thereof, lie on top of pontoons 33 and 34 and are secured in place by double bolts 35, and are welded in such a manner as to provide an airtight jointure so that the pontoons 33 and 34 will not become The flying deck 30 also includes two brace bars 32:1,,

each of which is pivoted to a middle slat 31 by means of a bolt 32b. The flying deck 30, by dogging the braces 32a, one on each side of hull 20, under the crossarms 40 and 40a, additionally substantially holds the flying deck 39 so that the main weight thereof rests on the pontoons 33 and 34 andthe hull 20.

The crossarms 40 and 40a are preferably made of tempered steel or other material of comparable strengthand weight, and are preferably secured to the deck of hull 20 by four half-inch studs 35a which are bolted in place when rigging the sailing craft for use. The studs 35a on hull 20' are suitably secured within said hull 20 to sustain the strain at the four spaced apart Patented Feb. 19, 1957 3 points with each point being approximately one inch from the edge of hull 20.

The pontoon 33 is apexed or pointed at the front end 33a thereof and at the rear'end 33b thereof, so as to permit the pontoon to moveth'rough the water with the apexed portion 341:, and a pointed or apexed rear por tion 34b. The pontoon 34; like pontoon 33, is also provided with a V-shaped bottom portion 340, which serves as a keel to thus providethe sailing craft with.

a single hull 20, and twokeels 33 and 34,? which in addition to serving as keels:also' acts as ballast;

The rear portion 23 of the hull 20 is provided with a bearing 36 secured to the transom in any suitable manner. The bearing 36' receives an upright leg. 37 which is attached at one end to a rudder 38, and at the other end to a suitable pivoted tiller or steering rod 39 through a pivot connection or socket 43 to permit the tiller 39 to'be raised or lowered in a vertical direc-' tion. craft is not considered to be novel per se.

. The hull 20', at the rear portion 23 on the underside, is provided with a slated rear section 23a terminating in the transom portion of the stem to which is secured the bearing 36 to support the steering assembly.

The hull 20 can roughly'be described as approximately fifteen feet long, two feet (2') wide, and eight mches (8") in depth. As indicated,.the' hull" hasa sea-sled type bow which is slightly cupped to forman air pocket to force the bow to climb rather than dig into the water when the craft is underway. The bottom= of the hull 20 has approximatelya one inch- (1") round on the bottom which is tapered to flat on the stern. Towards the stern, the sides round in until thetrans'om is approximately fifteen inches (15) in width.- As indicated, the rudder assembly isattached to the transom to guide the boat when the same is underway.

The pontoons 33 and 34 are approximately four feet (4) in length, and six to eight inches (6"--8) in width- From" the" center point; lengthwiseat the widest point. the ends of each pontoon round off to a" point on the front and rear ends thereof so as to reduce. waterresist ance. Each pontoon is eighteen to twenty inches( 18 20") deep with the bottom coming to a sharp V as described, which structure acts as a center-board or keel; The pontoons 33 and 34 are secured to the hull 20' bythe crossarms of the flying deck 30, which crossarms are eight feet (8) long thus making eachpontoon three feet (3') from the nearest side of the hull 20. The stays or guy wires to the mast are attached to the forward crossarm 40 outside of the flying deck The'flying deck 30 provides ample space for the riders who will furnish the necessary ballast by shifting weight on the flying deck to the most-desirable position depending upon the force and direction of the wind.

The hull 20 has a flat upperdeck-througho'ut its length and there is no cockpit. Allthe riders of the sailing craft will siteithe'r on the-deck of the bull or on the flying deck.

The pontoons and/or hull ofthe sailing craft can be constructed of plywood, lightweightmetal, fiberglass or plastic, or any' other suitable fioatable materialwhich willtend to make the overall-boat very light in weight.

The ma's't 26- may be: constructed or a lightweight'wo'o'd; either solid or laminated.- The-'sails' 27 and 28 are conventional with wire guys or stays holding the mast rigid;

The sailing. craft can be rigged with any type of con ventional sails onthe mast 26.

The particular steering assembly of the sailing.

This type of boat has several advantages over any other type of sailboat. (1) It is light enough for one person to handle in either rigging for use or dismantling. (2) When not in use, the boat can be dismantled and stored in approximately ten inches of wall space. (3) It provides greater stability in rough weather because of its beam. (4) It is much safer than conventional boats since the hull as Well as the pontoons are all airtight and if turned over through carelessness it can easily be righted and is ready to sail again as soon as righted thereby eliminating any wait for assistance to arrive. (5-) If completely capsized, as much of the hull and pontoons are still above water as when in the correct position. (6) In the event of a dead calm, this boat can be used as a surfboard by paddling with the hands easily attaining a speed of four knots because of the light-construction of the entire sailboat. (7) With skill and the effective use of ballast, it can be used in very rough-weather, eventhough it is designed for lake of bay sailing. (8) It canbe readily converted from asailboat into an iceboat or sailing craft for use on ice. (9) It can be made into an iceboat and later used as asailboat with no changes or alterations required. (10) The addition; of blades or runners for use on ice would not decrease the efliciency of this sailingcraft as a sailing craft on water. (11) The buoyancy of this sailingi craft provides an additional safety factor when used on ice asit will float if it breaks through the ice whereas most sailing crafts-used on ice do not float.

. Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to' those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is therefore desired to be'lirnited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What-we; claim is:

A craft adapted for sailing comprising, a single keel lessv hull having a substantially flat deck and having a length approximately seven times its width, said hull having awidth greater thanits depth, said deck having amastreceivingsocket in the forward portion thereof, combined keel and ballast means comprising a flying deckextending laterally beyond each side of said hull and transversely thereto for carrying riders at least on the laterally: extending portions thereof for ballasting purposes;-said flyingdeck'being-secured to said flat deck in substantially the mid-portion thereof, and two water engagingpontoonspeach of-said pontoons having a depth greaterthan the depth of the said hull, each' of said pontoonsbeing V-shaped at the bottom portion thereof to provide a keel. disposed normally in ahorizontal plane lower than the horizontal plane of the bottom of the hull, saidpontoons being disposed in parallel relationship to'said hull and to each other, one of said pontoons being dispos'edin-spaced apartrelation from substantially the mid-portion of said hull and secured to the underside of one end-portion of said flying deck, the other of said pontoons being oppositely disposed from saidfirst mentionedpontoon on the opposite side of said hull and in spaced apart relationship thereto, and said second pontoon being secured to the underside of the other end portion of said flying deck, the bottomof the mid-portion and the stern portion being substantially fiat and the bottomof the bow portion being formed with a downwardly faced-channel whereby the bow is forced to climb up;

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

